Cantilever wet press for a papermaking machine



Dec. 15, 1970 4 CURTIS 3,547,776

Original Filed Sept. 15, 1966 2 eeeeeeeeeeee t l D. R. CURTIS 3,547,776

CANTILEVER WET PRESS FOR, A PAPERMAKING MACHINE Dec. 15; 1970 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 13, 1966 United States Patent3,547,776 CANTILEVER WET PRESS FOR A PAPERMAKING MACHINE Donald R.Curtis, Appleton, Wis., assignor to Allis- Chalmers ManufacturingCompany, Milwaukee, Wis. Continuation of application Ser. No. 578,623,Sept. 13, 1966. This application June 5, 1969, Ser. No. 834,207 Int. Cl.D21f 3/04 U.S. Cl. 162-274 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aself-supporting Wet press for a papermaking machine having a top pressroll and top press roll frame separate from a bottom press roll andbottom press roll cantilever frame for easy removal of an endless feltlooped around the cantilever frame and between the top and bottom pressrolls. The cantilever frame has a pair of parallel horizontal pressbeams spaced apart and supported by a pair of cantilever beams eachhaving a portion projecting traversely and horizontally away from thepress beams in one direction, and removable support blocks beneath theone of the press beams spaced remotely from the projecting portion ofthe cantilever beams. This structure permits removal and replacement ofthe endless felt loop after merely raising the top roll press andremoving the support blocks.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 578,623 filed Sept. 13,1966, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to improvements in water removingportions of papermaking machinery. More specifically, this inventionrelates to cantilevered, self-supporting wet press having a top pressroll frame separate from the cantilever frame, and having pivotallymounted felt rolls, each to facilitate easy removal and replacement ofthe endless felt loop.

In a Fourdrinier papermaking machine, the wet web after being formed onthe moving wire by the headbox slice, is conveyed for a given distancewherein a portion of the excess water is drained off by gravity, bysuction, and by light pressing. Thereafter, the wet webis conveyedthrough a wet press section wherein a series of wet presses removeadditional water before the web passes to the dryer section. In each wetpress the wet web, while supported by an endless felt loop, is passedthrough a pair of press rolls. The press rolls squeeze a portion of thewater out of the web which is picked up by the felt and carried away.

As the endless felt in each wet press becomes worn and fouled, it mustbe replaced. In present day machine, this can be very cumbersome andtime consuming task, since it is necessary to physically lift any insidepress rolls and felt rolls out of the bearing housing in order to slipthe endless loop over the roll.

This invention is predicated upon my conception and development of a newand improved wet press which is a cantilevered, self-supporting system.By providing a top press roll frame separate from the cantilever frame,and providing pivotally mounted inside felt rolls, the endless loop canbe easily and quickly slipped over the entire structure.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a newand improved wet press for use in papermaking machinery which willpermit quick and easy replacement of the endless felt therein.

It is another primary object of this invention to provide acantilevered, self-supporting wet press for a papermaking machine havinga top press roll frame separate from the cantilever frame and havingpivotally mounted inside felt rolls.

3,547,776 Patented Dec. 15, 1970 It is still another primary object ofthis invention to provide a cantilevered, self-supporting wet press fora papermaking machine having pivotally supported rolls to facilitateremoval and replacement of the endless felt loop.

These and other objects and advantages are fulfilled by this inventionas will become apparent from a full understanding of the followingdetailed description, especially when considered in conjunction with theattached drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wet press incorporating one embodimentof this invention, showing the press in an operating position with theendless felt removed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the wet press shown in FIG. 1 wherein theendless felt is included;

FIG. 3 is the same wet press shown in FIG. 2 wherein the top press rolland felt rolls have been pivoted as necessary for removal andreplacement of the endless felt loop; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the gear assembly for pivoting the feltrolls.

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention isillustrated. The cantilever frame structure comprises a first framestructure having a pair of parallel, horizontally disposed press beams10 connected to a pair of cantilever beams 11 that each have a first endconnected to one base beam, a midportion that extends transverselybetween the press beams 10 and a second end portion that projects beyondone of the press beams in one direction away from the first framestructure. A base structure including a pair of parallel, horizontalbase beams 12 are provided directly under and parallel to the pressbeams 10 which are therefore above the base beams 12. During normaloperation therefore, support blocks 13 between the base beams 12 andpress beams 10 as shown, relieve the moment load on the cantilever beams11. Support blocks 13 beneath the one of the press beams 10 connected tothe first end of the cantilever beams 11 opposite the second andprojecting end portions of the cantilever beams, are removable for apurpose that will appear from the hereinafter description of theoperation of the disclosed press.

A bottom press roll 15 is rotatably and transversely mounted across thetop of press beams 10 by hearing blocks 16, so that the axis thereof isparallel to the cantilever beams 11. Drive shaft 17, axially secured topress roll 15, is connected to a power source (not shown) so that pressroll 15 may be rotated.

A top press roll 20 must be provided directly over and parallel to thebottom press roll 15, and must be movably supported by a second framestructure completely independent from the first frame structure. In thesecond frame structure, the top press roll 20 is rotatably andtransversely mounted between a pair of parallel lever arms 21. The leverarms 21 are pivotally mounted by pins 22 to a pair of parallel supportposts 23 which are rigidly secured to the base beams 12. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the top press roll 20 is in operating position, being incontact with the bottom press roll 15. In actual operation however, thefelt loop and wet web would be jointly moving between the two pressrolls so that the two rolls would not actually contact each other. Asshown in FIG. 3, the lever arms 21 can be pivoted about pins 22, so thatthe top press roll 20 may be lifted away from the bottom press roll 15.It should be noted that the lever arms 21 and support posts 23 comprisethe second frame structure which is separate and disconnected from thefirst frame structure comprising press beams 10 and cantilever beams 11.

To guide and support endless felt loop 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3) a pair ofpivotally supported felt rolls are provided at each end of thecantilevered first frame structure. Specifically, the embodiment shownprovides a cylindrical felt roll 26 rotatably supported between firstand outer ends of a pair of swing arms 27 parallel to each other andpress beams with each swing arm in a vertical plane parallel to thepress beams and roll 26 is maintained in a position horizontally spacedfrom one end of the two press beams 10 and parallel to the press rollsand 20. The second and inner ends of the swing arms 27 are pivotallysupported between the press beams 10 by pins 28. A gear wheel 29 isrigidly secured to the inner end of at least one swing arm 27concentrically over the pin 28. In a like manner, felt roll 30 isrotatably supported be tween a pair of swing arms 31 and maintained in aposition parallel to and below felt roll 26. The inner ends of swingarms 31 are similarly mounted pivotally between press beams 10. At leastone gear wheel 32 is also rigidly secured to the inner end of swing arm31 concentrically over pivot pin 33, and in meshing engagement with gearwheel 29 on swing arm 27. It should be apparent therefore, that if pivotarms 27 were pivotally rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2 andFIG. 3, the intermeshing gears 29 and 32 would force the pivot arms 31to be rotated clockwise and vice versa. Thus each of the felt rollsupporting arms 27, 31 are movable in a vertical plane to move the firstand outer ends of the arms toward and away from a horizontally disposedmidportion of the press beam, i.e., that midportion of the beams whichas shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is that portion of press beam 10 between thebroken line outline of cantilever beams 11. To effect any such motion atleast one third gear wheel 35, rigidly secured to shaft 36, is mountedin meshing engagement with either of the gear wheels 29 or 327 The shaft36 is rotatably mounted between press beams 10 and is provided with ameans (not shown) for manually rotating the shaft. A releasable lockingmeans (not shown) may also be provided to maintain the shaft 36 andswing arms 27 and 31 in a rigid position when the press is in operation.

Another pair of felt rolls 38 and 39 are horizontally spaced from theopposite end of the press beams 10 that carry rolls 26 and 30. The feltrolls 38 and 39 are mounted identically to felt rolls 26 and 30described above. Thus, the felt rolls 38 and 39 and the mountingmechanism therefor are but the mirror image of the felt rolls 26 and 30and associated mounting mechanism.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, a fifth felt roll 40(FIGS. 2 and 3) is rotatably mounted between a pair of bearing blocks 41directly below the press rolls 15 and 20. The bearing blocks 41 arerigidly secured to the base beams 12 to provide substantial clearancebetween the bearing blocks 41 and the undersurface of press beams 10. Aswill become apparent, it is essential that this clearance be provided atleast over the outer bearing block 41 away from the cantilevered side ofthe press. Felt roll 40 may be provided with an automatic guide (notshown) to maintain the felt loop 25 in a straight and proper path. Sincesuch automatic guides are well known in the art, it will not be furtherdiscussed here.

As in more conventional presses, an adjustable felt tensioning roll 45may also be provided to maintain a proper tension in the felt. In theembodiment shown, felt roll 45 is rotatably supported between a pair ofparallel angular pivot arms 46, which are pivotally supported on thebase beam 12 by shaft 47 and brackets 48. The pivoting action of thearms 46 should be such that felt roll 45 can be moved in an arcuate pathapproximately midway between the two felt rolls 26 and 30. Hence, asfelt roll 45 is pushed between felt rolls 26 and 30, any slack in thefelt loop 25 is taken up and a tension placed thereon. It would ofcourse, be desirable to provide an additional means (not shown) to lockthe press roll 45 against the felt loop 25 to maintain a constanttension in the loop.

In operation, the wet press will appear as shown in FIG. 2. The rotatingmotion of press roll 15 will pull 4 the felt loop 25 and wet web betweenthe two press rolls 15 and 20 driving the endless felt loop 25 round ina clockwise direction. Felt rolls 26, 30, 38 and 39 are positionedoutwardly as shown, to support and carry the felt loop 25. Felt roll 45is pressed against the felt loop 25 as shown to take up the slack andplace the loop under proper tension. The entire structure is supportedby cantilever beams 11 and base beams 12.

Whenever the felt loop 25 becomes worn or fouled, it must be replaced.Replacing the felt loop 25 in the wet press of this invention can beaccomplished quickly and easily as compared to prior art operations. Toreplace the felt loop 25 it is first necessary, as in prior art presses,to shut the machine down and remove the Wet web. The rearward side oflever arms 21 are then depressed to raise the top press roll 20 off ofthe bottom press roll 15. Pivot arms 46 are then pivoted clockwise towithdraw felt roll 45 from between the two forward felt rolls 26 and 30.Shaft 36 must then be rotated in such a manner as will cause felt wheels26 and 30 to be moved rearwardly. That is, the upper swing arms 27 arepivoted in a counterclockwise direction while swing arms 31 are pivotedin a clockwise direction, bringing the felt r-olls 26 and 30 inwardtoward the center of the wet press. In a like manner, felt rolls 38 and39 are also pivoted toward an inward position. At this point the feltloop 25 should be extremely loose fitted over the inside rolls. Theouter support blocks 13 are then removed, and the felt loop 25 caneasily be slipped outward clearing all inside rolls supported by thecantilevered structure. To install a new felt loop 25, the reverseprocedure is followed. It should be noted that the entire felt replacingprocedure can be accomplished without removing any of the inside rolls,or any roll at all, from their mountings.

It should be apparent that numerous modifications and additionalfeatures could be made and incorporated into the embodiment detailedabove without departing from the basic concept of this invention.Accordingly, it should be understood that this invention is not to belimited to the details given herein, but may be modified within thescope of the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A wet press for a papermaking machine comprising: a base structureincluding a pair of horizontally spaced apart base beams; a first framestructure mounted on said base structure, said first frame structurehaving a pair of horizontal press beams each supported above a base beamand connected to a cantilever having a first end connected to one of thebase beams, a midportion of the cantilever that extends transverselybetween the press beams and a second end portion of the cantilever thatprojects transversely and horizontally beyond the other of the pair ofpress beams in one direction away from said first frame structure;removable support block means on top of the one of the base beamsbeneath the one of the press beams connected to the first end of saidcantilever opposite said second and transversely projecting end of thecantilever; a bottom press roll rotatably mounted between the pressbeams with the axis thereof parallel to the cantilever; a plurality offelt rolls, a plurality of felt roll supporting arms, each end of eachfelt roll being journaled in a first end of a felt roll supporting arm,each said supporting arm having a second end opposite said first endpivotally connected to one of the press beams, each felt roll beingarranged such that it is parallel to said bottom press roll, eachsupporting arm being parallel to a vertical plane through the pressbeams; a gear wheel rigidly secured to the second end of at least one ofthe arms supporting each felt roll, each said gear wheel being pairedwith and engaging a gear wheel of another supporting arm of another feltroll thereby forming a felt roll pair; an endless felt loop having aninner and outer surface, said felt loop encircling said felt rolls andsaid bottom press roll; a driving gear wheel in meshing engagement withone gear wheel of said paired gear wheels for pivoting each of thepaired supporting arms and felt rolls, the arms swinging in saidvertical plane and moving the felt roll supporting ends of said armstoward and away from a horizontally disposed midportion of the pressbeam to which each arm is connected; a second frame structure mounted onsaid base structure; a top press roll rotatably journaled in said secondframe structure and disposed parallel to and above said bottom pressroll and outside the loop of said felt; and means on said second framestructure for lowering said top press roll to engage the outer surfaceof the felt and press the inner surface of the endless felt loop againstthe bottom press roll and vice versa for raising said top press roll todisengage the top press roll from the endless felt loop.

2. A wet press for a papermaking machine as described in claim 1 furthercomprising an adjustable felt tensioning roll rotatably secured to meansfor adjustably positioning said adjustable felt tensioning'roll againstthe outer surface of said endless felt loop between said pair of feltrolls supported by said arms having said meshing gears, to maintaintension therein.

3. A wet press for a papermaking machine as described in claim 1 whereinsaid plurality of felt rolls comprises one pair of felt rollshorizontally spaced away from one end of the said press beams and onepair of felt rolls horizontally spaced away from the other end of thesaid press beams.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,352,747 11/1947 Lithgo et al162--358X 3,378,435 4/1968 Loynd 162273 S. LEON BA-Sl-IORE, PrimaryExaminer R. H. PUSHIN, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1.X.R.

